The Society was founded in 1973, mainly as an appreciation Society. Since then, however, it has performed all the operas of Gilbert & Sullivan and also hold regular concerts at various venues throughout South Devon. Up until 2002 the main production each year was held in the Palace Theatre in Paignton but since 2003 has been staged at the Little Theatre. During its 40 year history the Society has achieved a number of notable successes. In 1978 it achieved world-wide renown when it sung all 13 of the published G&S operas in succession; a feat it repeated in 1998. The Society also had the distinction of staging Pirates on the 100th anniversary of its first production in the very theatre where it was first performed (alas now gone).